Mamadou Diabate and the kora

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 24 May 2009, 01:26

Fascinating musician from Mali (Suji, please note!

) with his instrument the 'kora' in this lovely concert with Shujat Khan and Lalgudi Krishnan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHO78wsTuNc

Mamadou's website -
http://www.mamadoukora.com/

He belongs to the 'musician caste'!

knandago2001 · Post by **knandago2001** » 24 May 2009, 08:14

thanks for that lovely clip of Mamadou Diabate, Shujat Khan and Lalgudi Krishnan. the sounds produced on the kora remind me of the celtic harps. the tempo, refrain and rhythmic variation in Bi Allah La Ke are delightful!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 25 May 2009, 14:05

Yes, the kora does sound like the harp. But in the concert excerpt I cited, Mamadou seems to be able to blend nicely with the Indian musicians - replete with gamakas and all.
He seems to have imbibed our musical style quite nicely. That is impressive indeed.

Do we have more information about the kora? Would be nice day if one day we have it on stage at a CM concert!

gn.sn42 · Post by **gn.sn42** » 25 May 2009, 23:04

Toumani Diabate has a routine during his shows where he demonstrates some basic kora techniques - YouTube has several examples.

Here is one: Toumani Diabate In New Zealand

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 26 May 2009, 09:47

What a superbe blending? Thanks Mr.Ragam-talam. A lovely clipping. I am amazed to see the way the 'musician caste' is able to play. The moral of the story is music has no limits.